Midwest Living Review

Keys fills a gap in breakfast spots in downtown on weekends. Keys has multiple locations throughout the Twin Cities; however, the downtown Minneapolis location is something special. The environment manages to balance elegance with a warm casual Midwestern feel, with chandeliers contrasting with the high-top tables and 1950s-style sugar dispensers. Located in the Foshay Building, which is a historic downtown landmark, Keys retains some of that 1920s era grace with high ceilings and an old-fashioned bar running the length of a long mirrored wall. Yet in the center of it all sits the bakery case, stuffed with pies, cookies, cakes, Rice Krispy bars -- anything a visitor with a sweet tooth could ever want. Keys is open until 10 p.m., but they are most well-known for breakfast. In fact, breakfast foods (served all day) take up nearly half the menu. Eggs and pancakes appear to be particular specialties, with an assortment of each. Pancakes are nearly the size of your plate, available as buttermilk, buckwheat, blueberry bran, raisin walnut, banana pecan or even granola and that doesn't include the toppings. Don't be shy about ordering a mimosa, available with fresh-squeezed orange or grapefruit juice and served in a Champagne flute. Somehow, with the contrast of elegance and comfort at Keys, enjoying a mimosa with pancakes seems fitting.